South Lake Gets New Voice Business People, Residents Create Clermont-area Development Council

December 23, 1986|By Adam Yeomans of The Sentinel Staff

CLERMONT — Business people and residents concerned about unbridled growth in the Clermont area have formed a development council for south Lake County.

The aims of the group, South Lake Development Council Inc., are to promote economic growth, help preserve the quality of life and work with government agencies on issues affecting the southern end of the county, said Lawson ''Speedy'' Wolfe, chairman of the council's board of directors.

Wolfe, president of CBS Industries Inc. in Clermont, said he and several other local business people decided about two months ago to form the group because they felt that south Lake County is not part of the process when decisions are made affecting the Clermont area.

The Lake County Economic Development Council was formed three years ago to promote economic growth across the county.

The new group will work with the countywide council, Wolfe said, although many people in south Lake County ''don't feel like the Lake County Economic Development Council has been very active for this end of the county.''

Richard Huff, a director and founding member of the new group, said the creation of the south Lake group was ''no reflection'' on the Lake County council. Huff is incoming president of the Lake County council.

Jack Pae, executive director of the Lake County council, said the two groups could help each other by discussing industrial prospects considering the county. Pae denied the Lake County council ignores south Lake in trying to find sites for businesses.

In addition to Wolfe and Huff, directors of the south Lake council are Richard Bell, owner of Bell Ceramics Inc. in Clermont; Dennis Horton, a Clermont lawyer; and Bob Wade, owner of Bob Wade Ford Inc. in Clermont.

Wolfe said he and the others were prompted to organize by recent actions by local government agencies concerning south Lake County.

For instance, he said, residents and property owners received scant notification when the Lake County Commission implemented in October a 3-month moratorium on development on 4 square miles near U.S. Highway 27, Florida's Turnpike and State Road 19 to study the potential economic impact on an area that includes 10,000 acres.

The new council would give residents and business people a forum to air their concerns and take a stance on issues, Wolfe said. The council has six committees to study such topics as the environment, finances, education, governmental relations, growth management and economic development.

Wolfe said the group has held two meetings and 40 to 60 people signed up to join.